After thereleases ofWickedandGladiator IIknockedSmile 2out of one of its most prestigious box office lists, the horror sequel proved popular enough to regain its place,fighting off competition and the film’s release on VODto earn back its position in thetop 25 movies at the 2024 domestic box office. This is thanks to another weekend in which the movie made over $1 million nationwide, landing in the top 10 of both Friday, November 22, and Saturday, November 23’s daily rankings.
One of the most successful horrors of the year,Smile 2has now earned over $136 million worldwide, split between $67 million domestically and $68 million in international markets. This, combined with the better performance of the first movie, gives theSmilefranchise an early total of over $350 million,proving it is one of the most exciting new horror franchises in cinema. If you can’t wait to grabSmile 2in physical form, you need not wait for too long, with it confirmed that a4K Blu-ray releasewill debut on August 08, 2025.
‘Smile 2’ Features a Career-Best Performance From Naomi Scott
There are many reasonsSmile 2has resonated so well with audiences. From somegenuinely inventive jumpscaresto a plot soaked in thestruggles of fame and modern self-loathing, this sequel is a wonderful follow-up to an impressive first film. However, beyond all this, it isNaomi Scott’s immersive star performance, perhaps the best in her career, that stands out asSmile 2’s shining beacon.One of the most viscerally powerful performances of the year, Scott doesn’t just become the simple scream queen victim of a stalking horror prey, insteadembodying the vitriolic hatred of stardom and the implosive realities of a battle with addiction.InJeff Ewing’sreview of the film for Collider, he said:
“Giving all these aspects their due,it’s Naomi Scott who steals the show here. Poor Skye Riley is routinely isolated, confused, scared half to death, judged, and made to question her sanity, and Scott handles all these challenges exceptionally. She delivers a protagonist whose sympathetic and problematic, complex, and strong-willed but near heart attack levels of terror for much of the film’s runtime. She’s genuinely incredible in a particular scene with a bevy of dancers,which also happens to be one of the year’s best horror sequences, bar none.Rosemarie DeWittis excellent as Skye’s ever-watchful mother, whileKyle Gallnermemorably returns as Joel from the first film andRay Nicholson hauntingly adaptshis father’s famed Kubrick Stareinto a Kubrick Smile. It’s still a massive showcase for Scott, whocements herself as a scream queen to watch.”
You can still catchSmile 2in theaters now. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Smile 2 is the sequel to the 2022 psychological horror film by director Parker Finn that centers on a therapist who witnesses a patient’s suicide, leading to a series of terrifying supernatural events. The sequel will see the return of Finn as director, with Paramount continuing distribution.
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